Flu Jab Linked to Sleeping Disorder

A FLU vaccine given to millions of Britons, including children,
is not suitable for those aged under 20, according to European
regulators.

Pandemrix should only be given to children and teenagers if
other vaccines are unavailable and they still need protecting
against the H1N1 strain of flu, the European Medicines Agency (EMA)
said.

It follows an investigation into reports from Finland and Sweden
of children and adolescents suffering from narcolepsy symptoms.

Narcolepsy is a rare sleep disorder which causes a person to
suddenly and unexpectedly fall asleep.

The EMA said that the overall risk benefit of Pandemrix remains
positive but studies had shown a six to 13-fold increased risk of
narcolepsy in children and adolescents vaccinated with
Pandemrix.

The EMA said "the vaccine is likely to have interacted with
genetic or environmental factors which might raise the risk of
narcolepsy, and other factors may have contributed to the
results".

Made by GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), Pandemrix was the most widely
used vaccine in the UK at the height of the 2009/10 flu
pandemic.

A statement from GSK said: "GSK has committed to conduct further
research into any potential association between Pandemrix and
narcolepsy and will seek independent expert advice on this research
activity, as agreed with the EMA."